Unregistered architect fined in Qld court

A MAN has been fined $11,000 for performing architectural services while unregistered.

Stephen Ainsworth Ingram, who claimed he was an architect while working on a number of commercial projects on the Sunshine Coast between April 2010 and April 2011, pleaded guilty to four charges in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard Ingram, 62, had qualifications from a college in the US but was unregistered in Australia and had not satisfied skills upgrade requirements set out by the Board of Architects of Queensland.

Barrister Paul Smith, who appeared for the board, told the court a fine of up to $18,000 was appropriate.

He also said the board was not pressing for a conviction but sought to recover half of the $90,000 it cost to investigate the matter.

Defence solicitor Ben Walker said Ingram had since obtained the appropriate architectural licence.

He asked for leniency, saying Ingram, who owns nine motorcycles and two cars, had a mortgage and was in dire financial circumstances.

Magistrate Wendy Cull fined him $11,000 and also ordered him to pay $30,000 in costs.